Protesters highlight fair's use of elephants

About 50 protesters marched outside the San Diego County Fairgrounds on Sunday, alleging that the fair’s elephant rides use animals that have been abused by trainers.

“They use force, pain and punishment to get these elephants to do these silly tricks,” said Matt Rossell, campaigns director for Animal Defenders International.

Rossell and representatives of two other groups — the Animal Protection and Rescue League and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — asked the fair to cancel its contract with Have Trunk Will Travel. They played a video allegedly filmed at the company’s Perris ranch showing trainers beating the animals with elephant hooks.

The 6-year-old video was only recently released because it was at the center a larger project investigating several animal training facilities, Rossell said.

Have Trunk Will Travel could not be reached for comment Sunday, The company’s website maintains that it supports conservation and research “that will help all elephants live healthier lives.”

The fair, a spokeswoman said, is looking into the charges against the company. “We are getting information,” said Linda Zweig. “We’re still in that process.”

But Zweig noted that Have Trunk Will Travel has been a fair client for more than 25 years. “We’ve never had any indication that there’s any abuse.”